National Democratic Union of Brazil

The National Democratic Union (UDN) was a conservative and classical liberal political party in Brazil that was active from 7 April 1945 to 27 October 1965. The party was founded by Carlos Lacerda following the end of Getulio Vargas' regime, and it was united in its opposition to Vargas and his two loyal parties, the Brazilian Labor Party and the Social Democratic Party of Brazil. From 1945 to 1962, it was the second-largest party in Congress, behind the PSD, but the PTB surpassed the UDN in 1962. In 1962, the UDN conspired with military officers to topple President Joao Goulart, and Goulart was deposed in the 1964 Brazilian coup d'etat. However, the military banned all political parties, and most of its members joined the pro-military ARENA party.